Oman’s mud‑brick revival
Oman’s ancient quarters are described as undergoing a ‘renaissance’ this week — mud‑brick revivals and restoration projects are being positioned as new tourism hubs in social coverage []. The reporting frames these restorations as both heritage preservation and fresh itinerary anchors for travelers seeking architecture and living traditions [].
Al Hamra’s Old Hara was formally placed under an urban regeneration plan tied to Oman Vision 2040 omanobserver.om, a programme announced in an Oman Observer piece on Oct. 5, 2024 that tasks the Directorate‑General of Housing and Urban Planning with restoring mud houses and adding smart infrastructure. Al Dakhiliyah Governorate signed agreements valued at over OMR 4 million (about $10.4 million) to upgrade Nizwa, Bahla and Al Hamra’s visitor infrastructure on projects reported Jan. 21, 2025 travelandtourworld.com, including a glass‑bridge, walkways, heritage lighting, parking and visitor maps for Misfat al Abriyeen. The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism issued tenders to restore and maintain Bahla Wall — described as a 12‑kilometre defensive structure of towers and gates — and set a bid deadline of Jan. 19, 2025 in its preservation push for UNESCO‑listed sites. muscatdaily.com Al Dakhiliyah officials said rehabilitation spending in 2024 exceeded OMR 3.78 million and reported castle‑and‑fort visitor numbers rose from 312,200 in 2023 to over 415,000 in 2024, a 33% increase cited by the governorate’s office. m.timesofoman.com Private restorations are already visible on the ground: Kamakan Inn in Bahla was reopened as a nine‑room mud‑and‑straw guesthouse by Nasser al Othmani to revive local crafts and hospitality, with Bahla Fort noted as the town’s UNESCO site since 1987. zawya.com Local project briefs detail operational fixes — expanding parking at Jabreen Fort, adding pedestrian safety barriers, and reviving souq entrances — measures intended to boost accessibility and extend visitor dwell time, as outlined in the Dakhiliyah development announcements of Jan. 2025. m.timesofoman.com
